“Advanced” statistics such as Fenwick, Corsi, and scoring chances can often display the natural trends and occurrences of a game, usually syncing up with the “eye test” of your average viewer. The first period of the game between the Canucks and Jets was not one of those circumstances.

Scoring Chances

-

Even Strength

PP/SH

Chance +/-

Player

For

Vs.

For

Vs.

-

Pardy

3

1

0

0

2

Stuart

2

6

0

1

-3

Trouba

2

5

0

2

-1

Kane

3

3

1

0

1

Jokinen

2

1

2

0

3

Peluso

1

0

0

0

1

Ladd

3

2

2

0

3

Wright

1

0

0

3

-2

Little

2

2

2

0

2

Thorburn

1

2

0

0

-1

Wheeler

3

3

1

0

1

Byfuglien

3

1

3

1

4

Enstrom

5

1

2

2

4

Setoguchi

2

3

0

0

-1

Bogosian

3

2

1

0

2

Scheifele

4

4

1

0

1

O’Dell

2

1

0

0

1

Frolik

3

3

0

3

-3

-

Even Strength

PP/SH

Chance +/-

Player

For

Vs.

For

Vs.

-

Hamhuis

3

4

3

3

-1

Bieksa

3

5

0

0

-2

Garrison

1

2

3

0

2

Weber

2

3

0

0

-1

Booth

4

1

0

0

3

Tanev

4

2

0

3

-1

Kassian

5

3

0

0

2

Richardson

4

1

0

2

1

Kesler

3

4

3

0

2

Higgins

4

5

0

1

-2

Dalpe

0

1

0

0

-1

D. Sedin

0

2

3

0

1

Santorelli

4

5

0

0

-1

Sestito

1

1

0

0

0

Weise

0

0

0

0

0

H. Sedin

0

2

3

1

0

Hansen

0

2

0

2

-4

Alberts

2

2

0

0

0

Team

1st (ES)

2nd (ES)

3rd (ES)

Total (ES)

Winnipeg

2 (2)

5 (2)

5 (5)

12 (9)

Vancouver

3 (2)

5 (3)

3 (3)

11 (8)

Observations

Despite being completed and utterly dominated throughout the first period, the Jets somehow managed to keep the numbers close. This resulted in a mere 1-0 deficit, giving them hope for a comeback and an unlikely win. The Jets continued on to keep pace with the Canucks for the rest of the game and if not for a defensive lapse in the third, could have come away with a point or two. If I’m a Canuck fan, I’m left scratching my head as to how and why this game was not over early.

Through two periods only one Jet was on the ice for more than one even strength chance for. Who was it? Eric O’Dell. At the same point in time, there was also only one Jet who was yet to be on the ice for any even strength chances for. Is there anyone really surprised that it was Chris Thorburn? I think that alone goes miles to speak to the lack of common sense Claude Noel uses when he puts his lines together.

Further to that point, Noel also decided it would be a good idea to roll his rookie led line of Scheifele, Kane and Frolik out against the Sedin’s on a regular basis. Luckily (and most likely due to some solid play from Bogosian and Enstrom), they managed to hold their own pretty well. Neither Sedin was on the ice for an even strength scoring chance on the night, and the kid ended the night at evens during 5 on 5 play. I’ve really liked Scheifele’s game lately, but even with guys like Kane and Frolik I don’t think it’s wise to keep rolling him out against the NHL’s best.

Outside of taking an early goal away from Zach Kassian, Mark Stuart was just terrible throughout the game. Trouba may be good, but he is no miracle worker. Stuart once again was the worst Jet on the ice scoring chance-wise, and was on the ice for both goals against. He has constant lapses, provides no offense, and gets a lot of his blocked shots because he spends so much damn time in his own end. I don’t care if he has an ‘A’ on his jersey. He shouldn’t be on the ice, and should be with Ellerby in the press box.

The more I see it, the more I enjoy the power play unit of Kane – Scheifele – Wheeler. They have played a huge role in the resurgence of the special teams, and they look damn good while they do it. More of this please.

Just tossing this out there: Eddie Lack is a heck of a goaltender. Apparently the Vancouver organization is a goaltending farm. I know it’s still early in his career, but outside of 2012-13 the guy has put up some pretty stellar numbers. We all saw how ugly things got in Vancouver when they held on to Schneider too long. Lack could be available at some point?

Final Thought

It’s impossible to take positives out of a loss when you are so far out of a playoff spot, but I was impressed with how the Jets bounced back following a terrible start to this game. The real test comes tonight though, as they go into Edmonton to play a team that’s both furious and desperate for a win.

I write things, you read them. Then tend to yell at me for them. It's okay though, I'm from Winnipeg. I can take it. If you actually do like what I write, give me a twitter follow here (@thrubeniuk): https://twitter.com/thrubeniuk

KSF vs the Sedins might look like a poor matchup but the Kesler line has been quite good for the Canucks (he is their top scorer). The problem the Jets have is with Thornburn on the 3rd line you sure don't want to have them up against the Sedins or they will cycle the crap out of you.

Eriksson's been on a roll lately down in Utica too, another Swedish signing like Lack. I wonder if after suffering through poor goaltending earlier, the Canucks have their scouts focused on looking for goalies or whether it's just been happy coincidence.

I think Gillis has mentioned in the past that the Canucks have been trying to improve their scouting in Sweden.

Agreed, Travis. What a world it might be to have a goalie for now AND a goalie for the future! Right now we only have hope that things continue in the right direction for the Jets' youths and we get one of those two things.